Updates on Miss Izzy - Kona's sister up north

June 20, 2008

Just an update on Miss Izzy....she is doing marvelously and is a joy!  She weighs 40 pounds now and has gotten quite tall.  We walk briskly every morning for about 30 minutes, which wears her out for a few hours!  She has a playmate, Murphy, a 100 pound golden retriever on the block, who is her best friend.  They play together several times a week, and believe me, Izzy is no shrinking violet!  She's very aggressive and dominant, rarely submissive, and keeps him on the run!  We call them "peas and carrots" as we liken their relationship to Forrest and Jenny in Forrest Gump (Murphy isn'tthe brightest light, but very sweet!). Izzy hasn't had an accident in the house since the second week we had her!  She's very bright and has learned alot of commands and behaves well, with the exception of picking up just about anything on the floor (but isn't that a puppy and a lab!). I'm sure that she'll outgrow that shortly!  She prefers my lounge chair on the patio to any other spot for nap-taking.  It takes her about an hour to finish any meal, down from about 2 hours a few weeks ago!  She's definitely not food-driven, but certainly loves attention Her manners with other dogs are great, and we did a walk for Parkinson's Disease downtown this past weekend and she was wonderful with all the other dogs there.

How different they all are...Kona, (at the time this was written)...is over 50 pounds, though I'm not sure exactly how much now. She and Zuma are inseparable and fight like sisters for our attention.  Izzy sounds more like Zuma in the eating department. Kona, onthe other hand, downs any food in seconds!  Kona is definitely dominant, butZuma always puts her in her place.  It's funny to see how they interact with one another and who is dominant over who in what matters (i.e. what Zuma allows Kona to take over).  Kona has completely taken over Zuma's position on our bed (so much so that Zuma now sleeps on the floor).  And Kona certainly is dominant over the food and treats issue.  Zuma is more dominant in attention from us and in about everything else.  It's been fun to watch them.  They are two very different dogs.  Zuma is more hyper and rough, but more behaved overall (and I think smarter).  Kona is very sweet and easy-going.  Kona will chew things up and climb counters to get food if left alone, whereas Zuma would rather die than to do any mischief at all.  But Kona usually wins over people because of her sweet and easy nature.  

Best of Friends

This is the norm most of the time at our house...well, that is if they aren't fighting over our attention or begging for food.

Like Mother, Like Daughter

Notice the similar poses!

Kona Kai (Koko) and her first solo adventures

Here is Kona with dad about to hit the trails for the first time

Find Kona now (look towards the bottom of the picture).  She got too tired to walk/run the full hour.  (Mom, Zuma, is in the background.)   It made for a VERY heavy stroller.  She went to PetsMart (Zuma's favorite spot) for the first time the day before and weighed in at 25.5 pounds!

I have to say that Koko is adjusting very well to the "good life," but I'm not so sure Zuma likes the idea of sharing her bed and sofa.  Especially to a cuddler (Zuma only snuggles on her own terms and Kona is always trying to lay on Zuma - one of them will eventually have to give into the other)!

We've been receiving a few updates from the pup families.  Some of them are already sitting on command (Koko included) and sleeping through the night.  They are adjusting just wonderfully to receiving individual attention, snuggling, walking on leashes, and getting lots of new visitors!  Keep sending your updates and photos to post!

Carson's New Family

He's going to be close by, so maybe he, Koko, and Hanah can all have some play dates!

Looking Back at the Fun with Hanah

In this video:  1. Hanah going bananas at the park with her new friend Peanut.  2. Like mother, like daughter.  Watch as Hanah and the other three amigos play with shoes and stuffed animals.  Hanah is notorious for stealing shoes and instigating the others in her scheme!  She steals one shoe and as soon as we go back in the garage to put it back, she steals another!  That stinker!  Then watch as mom steals a stuffed animal.  I wonder where Hanah got it from???

Last days with the pups

Carson, the last remaining male puppy - he has beautiful bright blue eyes and a playful and subdued disposition!

Hanging out with kids at the neighbors' front porch

The Three Amigos - Hanah, Carson, and Koko

Playing in the backyard

Carson (still available) and Koko - the lonely twosome

Homes for the puppies - more sad but happy goodbyes

Hanah's new dad

Little Girl (now Izzy) playing with mom one last time

Izzy's new family

Drake and his new family

Zuma was still sad after these two left, but she understood what was going on.  Plus, she did get to play at doggy day camp for several days in a row to cheer her up, so she forgave us.

Saying goodbye to her first two born - Gripey (now Rufus) and Bull (now leBullet)

Rufus and his new mommy

Watching as Rufus leaves (the first one to leave)

Bullet going home

Here is Zuma thoroughly in agony saying goodbye to her babies.  She was miserably "lumpy" (as we like to call her) when her playmates started to leave.  Barely ate and moped around all day.  We did, of course, make it up to her later.

Shots

The puppies and Jacob all shared a sad day today - they all got their shots today!  Jacob and the pups weigh almost the same (Jacob at 9 months to the day weighs about 22 pounds, whereas the puppies at almost 8 weeks all weigh between 19 and 20 pounds each).  They also were dewormed for the first time.  All this in preparation for their new homes this weekend.  Gripey is the first to go, followed by Bullet, Little Girl, and Hanah.  Drake and Carson are still looking to be adopted by a loving family.

Playtime with the family

The puppies are 7 weeks old today (Sunday).  After about a week of not being able to play outdoors due to bad weather, they were able to soak up the sun on their 7 week birthday.  Here they are with mom (watching vigilantly, as usual, and playing) and the rest of the family playing, running, resting, and chewing on (wagon and stroller) tires and a sprinkler drip hose.  Enjoy the music!

Bullet

Here are a few pictures of Bullet, the first born male.  He's just as big as the other kiddos, but he feels much denser.  I could be wrong, but I think this one's going to be huge!

Keep-away turns into Tug-o-war

In the video you can see their home as of the last couple of weeks or so.  They've definitely outgrown their whelping box/kennel combination (they are HUGE).  So, now we have a big fenced-off play area (for them to eat, nap and play) that connects to their kennel and then their whelping box (which they use for sleeping at night).

Wagging tails

Just a gratuitous tail wagging video while "dad" refreshes their bed linens

Zuma (the mom) cuddling and napping with a friend, Aiden

Cute shots - (in order) Koko, Gripey, Olive (aka Hannah)

Wake up time - puppies trying to warm themselves up after their baths

The Puppies are 6 weeks!!!!

The puppies are cuter than ever!  I can't describe how adorable they are and how irresistible they are to play with and pet when you see them!  Here they are today getting their baths.  Mom is licking one of them in sympathy while he is trying to escape!

Planning an escape route

All cuddly in a towel after being washed, dried, blow-dried, and having his nails clipped.

Home for Gripey

Here is Gripey's new owner as of mid-April.  They make a perfect pair already!

More play

Here you see two pups playing.  One is biting the other one's tail.  What you didn't see is that before this video was shot, they were going around in a circle biting each other's tails!